Either Mike Martz couldn't care less about settling any score with the Detroit Lions, or he's simply not voicing any vengeful thoughts to his players or the media.

It's business as usual for the 49ers' offensive coordinator, who was cashiered by the Lions after last season because his emphasis on the passing game wasn't to head coach Rod Marinelli's liking.

Martz has declined to talk with the media this week. A team spokesman said the coach preferred to keep a low profile. Maybe Martz is wary of saying something that might be critical of his former team, whom the 49ers play Sunday at Candlestick Park.

"The only emphasis Mike has made to us is that we need to play mistake-free football and be physical at the same time," guard Tony Wragge said. "He has stressed that all through training camp and all through the spring. Mike knows how to operate. He knows how to prepare his guys mentally for what they're going to see in a game. That hasn't changed this week."

According to quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, who played for Martz during the second of the coach's two years with the Lions, any personal feelings about the Lions haven't been mentioned.

"I'd guess the analogy he would use," O'Sullivan said, "is a time when he was with another organization and one of the coaches got up (in a meeting) and talked about how important this Monday night game was going to be, and his response was: 'What are you talking about? All these game are important. What, are you holding back in other games?'

"I think he gets up for every game, just like we all get up for it. ... Past relationships are put aside for us to find a way to win this game."

The players are aware of Martz's history with the Lions. "We know what the situation was last year when he was there," running back Frank Gore said. "It would be great if we could go out and beat them real bad."

But Martz hasn't changed his approach one iota, Gore said. "Every game he wants us to be the best offense. Every week he's the same."

When the Lions dumped Martz, he had nothing but praise for the organization. He said he had joined the club in 2006 because of Marinelli.

"Rod's a terrific coach, a man of great character," Martz said. "We fell short of what we wanted to do offensively, and I regret that. Nonetheless, he's going to be successful, and I wish he and the Lions all the best. My experience there was very positive. ...

"I've got no regrets about anything. I have no anger. I'm not upset about anything. I went as far as I could there, and now it's time for me to move on."

Under Martz, quarterback Jon Kitna posted the second- and third-highest season passing yardage totals in franchise history. However, the Lions ranked last in the NFL in rushing in 2006 and next-to-last in 2007.

He was criticized for abandoning the run in some games as soon as the Lions fell behind. When he left, he admitted there were philosophical differences between him and Marinelli but no hard feelings.

"It's just time that I moved on, really, more than anything else," Martz said.

This week during a conference call with Bay Area writers, Marinelli declined to comment on whether the imbalance in the attack was a bone of contention between them.

"It's well documented on my feeling about Mike and how good a coach he is, and I'll just leave it at that," he said

Martz's departure from the St. Louis Rams after the 2005 season was a far messier affair. He had missed the final 11 games that season because of a bacterial infection in his heart, and he had clashed repeatedly with the club's front office. Given medical clearance to coach the regular-season finale, he was denied permission to rejoin the team. The next day he was fired.